2012 Tuesday: Romney’s Obamacare missteps
I previously wrote that the effect of the Supreme Court’s Obamacare ruling on the presidential race would depend on how each campaign reacted to it. So far, not so good for Mitt Romney.
Romney’s initial statement made clear that he, and only he, would sign a repeal of Obamacare as president. A good start. Since then, however, it’s either been silence or an unforced error.
The unforced error, of course, was his spokesman’s televised comment that Romney doesn’t believe Obamacare’s mandate is a tax. The Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes has a good summary:
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom appeared [Monday] on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown with Chuck Todd, where he agreed with the host’s assertion that Romney “believes that you should not call the penalty a tax.”
Fehrnstrom explained: “The governor disagreed with the ruling of the Court. He agreed with the dissent written by Justice Scalia, which very clearly stated that the mandate is not a tax.” Later, Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg confirmed that Romney doesn’t consider the mandate a tax, telling ABC News: “Governor Romney thinks it is an unconstitutional penalty.”
It is not all that difficult a) to agree with Scalia — that the correct legal ruling would have been to consider the mandate’s penalty just what Congress called it: a penalty, not a tax — but then b) to point out that the Supreme Court’s ruling makes clear that the mandate is only lawful if it is considered a tax, and that the Obama administration is hypocritically trying to have it both ways by telling the public it’s a “penalty” on “freeloaders” after sending its lawyers to court to argue it’s a “tax.”
The obvious reason the Romney campaign is having so much difficulty following this argument is that it invariably brings the discussion back to Romneycare in Massachusetts. This was the biggest reason some of us felt he was not the best Republican to take on Obama as the party’s nominee.
I feel safe in saying Romney gains nothing by continuing to defend that law. He isn’t going to win Massachusetts. Independents in opinion polls break strongly against Obamacare and are highly unlikely to think to themselves, You know, I don’t like Obamacare but I sure am glad Romney passed a version of it as a governor. It’s a good thing he hasn’t renounced it. Standing by the state health law only hurt him in the primary.
It is an enormous mistake for him to risk pouring cold water on conservatives’ anti-Obamacare zeal.
If he wants to leave it to other people making the argument about Obamacare-as-a-tax, fine. But that’s a far cry from letting high-level campaign staff undermine that argument. And, given that there’s no higher court to which one could appeal last week’s ruling, the Romney campaign can gain nothing from continuing the “it’s not a tax” line.
All indications are that the economy is not going to recover sufficiently or quickly enough by this fall to save Obama. But while the economy is the No. 1 issue for many voters, it’s not the only issue — if it were, there would be no excuse for anyone not named Obama to be trailing in the polls. Romney has to be able to win on the other big issues, including Obamacare. And that requires a better performance on the issue than we’ve seen from his side so far.
Note: Due to the soap-opera shenanigans of a few commenters Monday night, all comments are going through moderation until further notice. Any comment that includes personal attacks or ventures off-topic while the on-topic discussion is still going strong will not be published. Those of you who think anything goes because I need the “hits” do not understand a) what a “hit” is or b) how beyond frustrated with some of you I have become. Be forewarned that the comments you submit, even if they are not published, may affect whether I let some of you back onto the blog ever again.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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127 comments Add your comment
AmVet
July 3rd, 2012
1:34 pm
When pressed repeatedly if Romney agrees with Obama and Democrats that the penalty is no tax, Fehrnstrom eventually said, “That’s correct.”
A penalty, a tax, call it what you will, it is the law of the land…
JDW
July 3rd, 2012
1:35 pm
@LBB… It matters that we now have government-run health care.
The government collects the money…insurance companies and providers function exactly the same as before.
Lord Help Us
July 3rd, 2012
1:36 pm
‘a government takeover of the industry. ‘
Is there a rule on this blog about reposting previously debunked talking points?
http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2012/jul/01/george-allen/george-allen-calls-health-care-law-government-take/
Uh Oh
July 3rd, 2012
1:38 pm
Ragnar
You stated that Obama was a hiring constraint. While we do not have a flourishing economy by any means, you do understand the concept of supply and demand, right?
The companies that have demand that is outpacing current resources are hiring, the ones that do not, are not hiring and even laying off if demand is decreasing.
If elected, how is Romney going to overcome the economic issues that are taking place world wide? You do know these world wide economic issues are to an extent out of any President’s control, yet a deterrent to companies hiring.
We live in a global economy and have been for sometime.
Take out Clinton’s tech bubble and Bush’s housing bubble, I am afraid we have been falling behind for sometime now. It was just masked by the bubbles.
I do not have all the answers, but we are not going to service sector our way out of this malaise.
hryder
July 3rd, 2012
1:44 pm
Germain to the incumbent occupant of the White House, VOTE OUT OF OFFICE ALL ELECTED INCUMBENT OFFICIALS IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. We as a country have an opportunity to stop the deterioration and move toward those principles which created life, liberity, and the pursuit of happiness for millions. Far too many advocate, not the pursuit, but the attainment of what they consider happiness with absolutely no effort on the part of unjustly awarded assets to freeloaders. Such people are merely buying votes to remain in political and economic power with no understanding of the longitudinal consequences.
Centrist
July 3rd, 2012
1:44 pm
Mandates and penalties are allowed by states, but not the federal government. That is why Obama tells the people it is a penalty and the court it is a tax. The MSM ignored it, because there is no tax they don’t support.
ragnar danneskjold
July 3rd, 2012
1:47 pm
Dear Uh-Oh @ 1:38, good afternoon, partially agree. The omission in your analysis is the plain fact that ObamaCare introduces new expenses for businesses, thus requiring the marginal value of any additional employee to be higher – if the normal expense of the employee plus the unnecessary added ObamaCare tax does not exceed the productivity of the employee, the employee will not be hired. The number of people “not hired” is inherently greater due to the government levy.
ragnar danneskjold
July 3rd, 2012
1:48 pm
Apologies Uh-Oh, error in my 1:38 penultimate sentence. Got my negative reversed there.
md
July 3rd, 2012
1:52 pm
“NO MORE FREE RIDES !!!”
And what bill did you read?
This bill creates nothing more than a giant entitlement program for millions of freeriders…..
Jefferson
July 3rd, 2012
1:53 pm
Romney is not the GOP choice, he’s their main.
Old Timer
July 3rd, 2012
2:02 pm
Why put the pressusre on Romney, Obama sold Obamacare as something it wasn’t. Neither served in the military sot that is a wash. Obama has made so many gaffs, cope and change is a joke. Obama said if he c ouldn’t get things back on track he would be a one term president–he atleast had that right. If you ever recorded Obama and played it back you would be astonished and the double talk. The country can’t stand four more years of Hope & Change . It is divided now more than I have seen in my nearly 80 years–Jimmy Carter came close, but Obama is the all time winner. Students no longer engage in civics, government or economic in schools as a requirement. Unfortnately, thngs that my generation have invented beginning with TV’s, Computers, Space Program, Jet aiplanes,, Cell Phones, etc, have put a new spin on current generations. Politics now is instant–no lionger do you have to wait for the 6 o’cloclk news. Unfortunately Hope & Change for many has turned to Disappointment and Dispair. It is time change directions, the current direction will only make the United States just another country like Europe is experiencing now. The country needs a breath of fresh air–and not via Cap & Trade.
Tiberius - Banned from Bookman's and proud of it!
July 3rd, 2012
2:02 pm
“I do not have all the answers, but we are not going to service sector our way out of this malaise.”
Which means we have to curb the influence of unions, which artificially increase wages past what the free market can bear (jobs in right-to-work states grew by over 6% last year vs. just over 1% for non right-to-work states), we need to allow the housing market to find it’s natural low, instead of trying to prop it up with government assistance, and we need to get rid of regulations that kill jobs. Like this:
http://www.redstate.com/aglanon/2011/09/20/epa-regulations-will-result-in-1-44-million-job-losses/
Note: All three things can be controlled by government – either through action or inaction.
Don't Tread
July 3rd, 2012
2:04 pm
“Due to the soap-opera shenanigans of a few commenters Monday night…” Wow…missed that fracas. I figured at some point it would get out of control, judging by some of the late-night postings here lately.
It surprises me that Romney and/or staff considers 0bamacare “not a tax” as this is the only legal argument that could possibly make it constitutional.
Kyle Wingfield
July 3rd, 2012
2:12 pm
Folks, just a reminder: When I wrote in the note at the end of the OP that “all comments are going through moderation,” that means you.
Yes, you. And you, too.
No need to post comments multiple times.
yuzeyurbrane
July 3rd, 2012
2:14 pm
Johnny Reb, you have good points but once Romney offers his plans they will either be rejected by most independents or by the Tea Party which forms a big part of Republican base, depending on which Romney he wants to be that day. That explains why he is pursuing an “empty vessel” strategy–be vague and let people fill the vessel with an image of agreement with them. Rarely successfully pulled off–the last was Nixon. Republicans are currently in disarray because Roberts Decision was in game changer category and they look like deer caught in the headlights. Their best hope now is that there is still plenty of time to election and game changing events in their favor can happen. Right now, however, it looks like Chicago is a better training ground than Bain Capital.
Obama is over
July 3rd, 2012
2:16 pm
Uh Oh @ 1:38
Obamacare is a hiring restraint. The fact that most of the elected officials that voted for it never actually read the bill created a sense of uncertainty that business simply could not accept. The cost of health insurance is only going to go up. A recent McKinsey and Co. study found that nearly 1/3 of all employers will likely drop coverage for their workers once Obamacare kicks in. Individuals will be forced into the open market paying higher premiums for a product which now has to provide coverage for preexisting conditions. Romney needs to attack Obamacare as the flawed legislation that it is. There has never been any question regarding the need for healthcare reform. However, Obamacare does not address the quality or the never ending cost increase of healthcare. Healthcare claims cost between $8 and $12 to process, yet complex financial transactions can be executed for pennies. Involving the Government, particularly the IRS, in individual healthcare is not going to improve the quality of care, efficiency, or cost. As far as the economic environment being out of a President’s control, Obama’s fatal flaw has been trying to increase Government control over business through regulations and his various agencies. Washington should focus on creating a hospitable growth environment rather than picking winners and losers based on campaign contributions. The President needs to: 1) address the “fiscal cliff” approaching in January, 2) follow the advice of his Simpson-Bowles commission and create long term tax and entitlement reform, 3) build the Keystone pipeline, and 4) resurrect the Doha round of trade liberalization. As you mentioned, we live in a global economy and these four steps would encourage confidence in our global trade partners that we are addressing our long term fiscal health as well as creating jobs, energy independence, and creating a friendly environment to do business. Unfortunately, this agenda would require leadership and the ability to put together a bipartisan coalition. The average 1.4% GDP growth during the 13 quarters of Obama’s Presidency proves that he does not have the skillset to create an economic growth environment.
captguitarman
July 3rd, 2012
2:20 pm
Your article is a good lead in on a topic the Pub/Cons had better get their heads around to which they need to start paying more attention — if they want to repeal/amend fix Obamacare — which definitely needs fixing, for lots of reasons — with how in the heck is a nation already $14 trillion in debt going to sustain what will surely become the most expensive, bloated, wasteful, and expensive mother of all entitlements in our history. It is not enough to parse and rail at the majority opinion, demonize Roberts, and beat your chests about repealing the bill.
O’Reilly had a clip last night of someone doing an interview with Boehner asking what the Pubs would put into place if they repealed Obamacare? Talk about a “deer in the headlights” moment. . . homina, homina, homina. It was actually funny. Later on in the interview O’Reilly said talked about tort reform and competing across state lines. Here’s a flash for you Pub/Cons. If you are going to pin your coming campaigns on tort reform and competing across state lines, just hang it up now. Those are good ideas certainly. There is nothing Americans buy as expensive as health insurance for which they have no inkling, no clue of the real price or cost . . . nothing else, and that has to change. But that is not health care reform in a nutshell. What are the specifics? What are you going to do. What is Mitt going to campaign on?
Part of the reason we are in this mess with this horrible legislation is that the Pub/Cons paid lip service to the need for health care reform, when they could have done something about it, and they did squat — except for the unfunded and increased prescription benefits passed under Bush. Like O’Reilly asked, What exactly are you goning to do? Pub/Cons, you can no longer demur and just hope you can repeal the bill — you need to come up with better and far less expensive solutions than a huge new tax. Obamacare has increased in popularity, but that is because only the good parts got enacted so far. After the November election, the really bad parts will kick in – some kind of coincidence, I’m certain.
And finally. Enough whining about Roberts and the majority decision. He put he ball in the peoples’ court. Go the ballot box and get rid of it, or don’t. It’s up to you in November. The commerce clause has been reigned in (at long last) to prevent future abuse and misuse of Congressional/Federal power . . . and Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday . . . the Court ruled that the law stands because it is a tax. Every Pub/Con should be repeating that mantra until the cows come home . . . . it’s a tax, tax, tax! And for two very good reasons. It is a good Pub/Con campaign issue a nation already trillions in debt, populated by a shrinking productive class that pays the lion’s share of the taxes any way, and with federal, state, and local taxes of all kinds, does not begin to start keeping the money it earned until late in May. Secondly, if Obmacare is a tax, and Roberts and the majority said clearly that it is, then the Pub/Cons only need a simple majority in Congress to repeal/amend fix it. I say amend because not all parts of it should be repealed. But, they also need the presidency because Obama will veto any changes passed by a Pub/Con Congress after November. So, the work is cut out and the goal is clear. Stop whining and start working toward a Pub/Con majority in the Senate, keeping it the House, and putting Mitt into office. PS. Someone please tell Mitt that it is a tax.
Jefferson
July 3rd, 2012
2:24 pm
More employers will offer health coverage to their employees as a result of the ACA. Give a seed water, and it will grow.
Jefferson
July 3rd, 2012
2:27 pm
The tea reps will kill any GOP chance of success with their polocies. They are too stiff, to speak.
JohnnyReb
July 3rd, 2012
2:29 pm
yuzeyurbrane – this will sound phony, but I promise its not. During the primaries I got a call from the RNC asking why I had not paid my 2012 membership. I let the guy have it on not being happy with the RNC establishment pushing Romney as the nominee. I asked him what the hell we would do about Obamacare when Romney became the nominee, that the Left would tare him to shreds. Unfortunatley, my concerns are coming true before our eyes.
The empty vessel approach may possibly give Romney some undecided votes, but it sure as heck will/is demoralizing the base.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 3rd, 2012
2:29 pm
The fact that most of the elected officials that voted for it never actually read the bill
Fact? that’s not a fact. They worked on the bill for 8+ months and read it multiple times. The only “fact” is that you have absorbed crazy talking points from the right wing media.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 3rd, 2012
2:31 pm
Now Cons are calling for SCOTUS term limits. Sore losers, you need to remember conservatives still control the bench. Be careful what you wish for.
Oblama
July 3rd, 2012
2:33 pm
Pizza – Don’t think Romney has a problem with any draft deferment – did Obama go in the military? That’s a non issue. To me ObamaCare is an illegal tax because it does not meet the criteria in the Constitution (there are 17 criteria) that allows Congress to tax U.S. citizens. I can see a possible repeal based on this argument.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 3rd, 2012
2:38 pm
Will Romney take a stand before November?
Dusty
July 3rd, 2012
2:42 pm
Well, I just had a delicious tomato sandwich. I also reminded Bookman that his today’s tomato idea came from our “tomato” conversation last night and he should credit Kyle’s blog. Hmmm….I think that comment disappeared. At least, he knows to come over to a GOOD blog to get ideas.
As to Romney making “mistakes” as he goes along, he’s not making many. When we look at the president, he has increased debt and tries to forget it, muddled healthcare until it is in court, .stays “on the road” for reelection purposes, tries to take credit for a military success, and leaves Washington to run on Chcago time. The thought of continuing in that pattern is down right scary.
It seems that Americans can look at Greece, Spain, France and other spiraling economies in Europe and NOT learn a thing! Obama can’t learn! Democrat can’t learn! Independents wiggle!
KInda makes you wonder why anyone doubts that Romney can’t do better. It would be impossible to be worse than Obama..
—–
Now….must get ready for the Fourth! First…the water melon….then ..no! I nixed chicken!. After last weekend when I burnt a poor chick, it is off list! Bye…
Chuck Doberman
July 3rd, 2012
2:43 pm
Gee Kyle, take the personal attacks away and many here will be left with nothing to say…
As for Romney, I don’t get the idea that he should just keep beating the economy issue. I know of the GOP sales pitch that this entire economic fiasco is an Obama creation and that he’s done absolutely zero to improve it… I’ve heard it repeated many times. There are two problems conservatives are left with:
many, many cognizant voters recognize this pitch for the load of BS it is
Romney’s offering for correcting the economy is a mirror image (on steroids) of the same exact policies and economic thinking that collapsed the economy in the first place. Nothing different… nothing new… same old tired rhetoric. Yes, that rhetoric is an easy sell to the captive conservative audience, but anyone else with a memory and a few synapses is looking at this with the skepticism and doubt it deserves
Stick with the health care issue Mitt. You’ll be better off
JDW
July 3rd, 2012
2:47 pm
@Flynn…”Will Romney take a stand before November?”
I think it’s more of a question of where does the roulette wheel stop…
He flips and flops so much that Politifact has a flop meter
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2012/may/18/politifacts-guide-mitt-romneys-flip-flops/
Uh Oh
July 3rd, 2012
2:54 pm
Obama is over
While there are examples and outliers for every issue that you and I can bring up, please post the names of the companies who have demand outpacing current and projected resources that are not hiring or looking at hiring via direct or contract employment?
I’m with everyone on passing of cost via price increases, but at the end of the day supply and demand will prevail.
If Company A can not meet the demands of Company B, Co B will find someone to meet their demand. This notion that he demand will just go away is nonsense, especially if it is already in place.
Regardless of the market condition or size of the company if you can not meet demand you will eventually become irrelevant in the market. Only so many companies have a service or product that there is no equivalent or alternative. They exist, but not many. Where there is demand it will be met.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
July 3rd, 2012
2:54 pm
getalife: When this bill fails to control costs, there is only one option left.
————
Fixed, and you are correct. That option is the free market. It worked until government started meddling in health care.
Middle of the Road
July 3rd, 2012
2:57 pm
I have to concur with the Romney camp. The ObamaCare penalty just doesn’t feel like a tax; neither does the RomneyCare one. Roberts switched his vote at the last second and found a flimsy legal basis to do so. I mean, if you don’t own a home then you’re paying a higher effective tax rate than someone who does. Is that a tax? A penalty?
I wish Romney could step up and brag about the virtues of RomneyCare, which has worked quite well by any measure. But of course that would be politically toxic these days. Rather than repeal and replace Obamacare he could then say that all it needs is some tinkering to be more like my own brainchild.
Sigh, it’ll never happen.
Rightwing Troll
July 3rd, 2012
2:58 pm
“The base will vote for Romney regardless.”
Therein lies the problem… You could’ve put a goat up there and the base would vote for it.
All this squalling and screeching about the ACA decision hasn’t earned conservatives one single moderate or independent vote. It just confirmed what you already had.
JDW
July 3rd, 2012
3:00 pm
@Oblama…”To me ObamaCare is an illegal tax because it does not meet the criteria in the Constitution”
However the Supreme Court has already decided the matter…it is a tax and it is Constitutional.
@@
July 3rd, 2012
3:04 pm
Obamacare can easily be tied into the economy.
I’ve always said Romney should have acknowledged his Massachusetts healthcare plan as a mistake. He does not need to apologize for being a Republican governor with a predominantly Democratic legislature in a predominantly liberal state.
There will be no more comments on this thread. All comments on all threads will be going through moderation until further notice.
Seein’s how Kyle’s ^^^ comment followed my off-topic (being held in moderation) one, I’m taking this personally.
Would it have been better for me to say Anderson was NOT a fairly objective journalist?
Jefferson
July 3rd, 2012
3:05 pm
The law WILL NOT be repealed. Not to mention is is good law.
Uh Oh
July 3rd, 2012
3:06 pm
“To me ObamaCare is an illegal tax because it does not meet the criteria in the Constitution”
Let’s see, I think I am going to take the word of the majority on the Supreme Court as well as the majority of the district courts that ruled it was partial or all constitutional.
The part that many on the right fail to see or just wish to ignore is that lawsuits were filed all over the place. The majority of them sent packing.
MarkV
July 3rd, 2012
3:07 pm
Romney has not much of a choice. If he calls the mandate payment a tax, it will undermine his claim that he did not increase taxes in MA. The payment is indeed a penalty, not a tax, but it will be administered through IRS and therefore falls under the taxing power of the federal government, or, as the Supreme court opinion states, for the constitution purposes it must be considered a tax. In the end the difference is meaningless from any other viewpoint – it is a payment required because of the personal responsibility not to become burden to others if sick or injured and unable to pay.
Don Abernethy
July 3rd, 2012
3:08 pm
I am a Republican who wants to defeat socialism and Obama. We have missed a golden opportunity to do that when we selected the most liberal Republican to run against Obama. Romney did not win the nomination he bought it. At least half of the Republicans do not like him. Now he is saying Obamacare is not a tax and playing right into the hands of Obama. Our only hope, and it is very slim, is that a sharp conservative Republican will be nominated at the Republican Convention. Other wise, as long as Obama is running against Romney (who introduced socialized medicine in Mass) Obamacare will favor Obama. Only about 10% of the people who have socialized medicine in other countries like it and they envy what we currently have here in the US.
JF McNamara
July 3rd, 2012
3:09 pm
I don’t think its politics. I think Romney believes Obamacare was the right thing to do, and he is having a hard time criticizing Romneycare because he doesn’t believe is a mistake.
Romney never should have won the nomination. He could potentially win, but he won’t actually get to do anything he really believes in. People loved Bush and like Obama because they, for better or worse, have principles and did what they thought was right. Romney just does whatever it takes to win.
Eventually they will have debates, and he will show as disingenuous. He’s not winning now with all the fund raising momentum, a so-so economy and a healthcare plan people allegedly hate still raw on the nerves. That first debate will be the beginning of an Obama landslide as independents run back to Obama.
hatorade drinker
July 3rd, 2012
3:09 pm
romney plan to replace obamacare is called
weDontCare
Kyle Wingfield
July 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
JDW @ 2:47: Politifact has a flip-flop meter for everyone from Sharron Angle to Elena Kagan…it’s hardly something they created with Romney in mind.
MarkV
July 3rd, 2012
3:12 pm
Dusty @2:42 pm
“KInda makes you wonder why anyone doubts that Romney can’t do better.”
Kind of makes one wonder why anybody would believe that Romney could do better than Obama.
“It would be impossible to be worse than Obama.”
Good line for laughs.
Jefferson
July 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
To compare the US to Europe is just a scare tactic, there is no valid argument there. The US is in a better place today than it was 3.5 years ago and continues to improve. Money is made to earn and spend to enhance life.
JDW
July 3rd, 2012
3:17 pm
@LBB…”It worked until government started meddling in health care.”
If your definition of “working” is spending almost twice as much as other industrialized nations for lower quality outcomes we are doing GREAT!
-US Healthcare spending 17.4% of GDP vs 9.5% to around 11% in Europe
-US Per Capita spending of around $8000 vs around $4000 in say the UK
-US life expectancy dead last in the industrialized world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy
However, I come down on the side of we need to be competitive on the world stage and provide more quality care at a better cost. Not to mention the whole humanitarian issue of what’s fair and reasonable.
Uh Oh
July 3rd, 2012
3:18 pm
“It would be impossible to be worse than Obama.”
Well take out a bubble that propped up the economy and we have that last guy who was in office.
JDW
July 3rd, 2012
3:20 pm
@Kyle..”it’s hardly something they created with Romney in mind.”
Didn’t know that. I will say this for him…he wears it well!
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
July 3rd, 2012
3:21 pm
Finn: Will Romney take a stand before November?
———–
What part of “I will repeal Obamacare” did you not understand?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 3rd, 2012
3:23 pm
Romney did not win the nomination he bought it.
thanks, Citizens United!
AmVet
July 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
That option is the free market. It worked until….
About the Reagan era.
Since then it has been a complete disaster for millions of American families.
In the past twelve years premiums for the average American worker went up 168%!!
Out of pocket costs and other expenses also skyrocketed.
From 1981 to 2012, the inflation rate for medical care, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, increased more than the inflation rate for all items, every single year.
The worse health insurance system in the world…
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
July 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
Conservative replacement plan? They want the stephen Colbert plan implemented:
The Walk It Off Plan.
Broken arm? Walk it off.
Got cancer? Walk it off.
bola? Walk it off
Big D
July 3rd, 2012
3:31 pm
Kyle, you are correct. I have thought from the beginning this election is for the Republicans to win or lose. Obama has nothing going for him. However the Respublicans can lose this election if they get stupid about abortion, immigration and taxes. Those are three issues they had better forget their conservative instincts. We Republicans need to focus on taking the white house, the senate and maintaining control of the house. Principles are important but they are meaningless without power.