“Reach Across the Aisle” Snubbed Every Time

Radio Commentary, WMVV 90.7 New Life FM, October 9, 2009
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. For weeks they’ve said Republicans refuse to help pass a health care bill, but that’s, simply, not true. The real problem is, the Democrats are trying to ram through a 1,000-page bill before it’s written, so congress and voters won’t have time to read it.

The truth is, the health care plan they want is not what Americans want. For example, Senator Baucus proposed a plan requiring law-abiding citizens to buy a government healthcare plan that will put private insurance companies out of business. And, if that weren’t bad enough, his plan authorizes the IRS to slap you with a $1,900 fine, treat you like a tax evader and sic a tax collector on you, if you won’t cooperate. But there’s something else you need to know. When the IRS is called in, law-abiding citizens will be taken to court and fined if they don’t buy the government plan. So, law-abiding citizens will be treated like criminals, but illegal aliens and convicted felons who won’t be penalized.

Actually, the Joint Committee on Taxation informed Senator Ensign that failing to comply with the government plan could mean a $25,000 fine and a year in jail. However, if the IRS charges the taxpayer with felony tax evasion, he could go to jail for five years and pay a $100,000 fine.

Regardless of all the denials, the Baucus plan would subsidize all elective abortions, though Senator Hatch is expected to offer an amendment to take out the abortion funding and protect the conscience rights of health care workers who don’t want to do abortions. But don’t hold your breath! They’ve rejected every amendment Republicans have offered and will, no doubt, reject this one, too.

Of the 564 amendments filed in committee, only a few got a vote. It’s hard to believe, but they rejected an amendment requiring them to read the final language of the bill and post the final cost analysis on the Web at least 72 hours before they vote on it. They defeated that amendment 11 – 12, right down party lines. Only Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln voted with the ten Republicans on the committee. So, please ask your representative and our two senators to vote NO on these health care bills. Call 1 877 762-8762* toll-free and tell them your zip code. They’ll transfer your call to the office of Senator Chambliss or Senator Isakson or your congressman. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol Correspondent.