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#41
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Massachusetts' example White House budget director Peter Orszag says penalty size isn't the only factor in determining whether people buy coverage. He predicts the mandate will help create societal expectations that everyone gets health insurance, just as most people feel obligated to buckle their seat belts. He points to Massachusetts, which in 2007 became the first state to require that most residents have insurance. Since then, the percentage of uninsured has declined to 4% from about 7%. The Massachusetts penalty for failing to buy insurance this year is $1,068 — about half the cost of the lowest annual premium. About 96% of tax filers in the state in 2008 reported they had coverage; only 1% paid a penalty http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...nsurance_N.htm |
#42
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#43
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#44
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#45
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And is the mandatory program is funded with the same cost ratios and income as the Senate federal program (works the same, on the same scale) so is directly applicable? To me the post sounded like a pretty broad, "government involvement in healthcare sucks, look at Canada" kind of thing to me. Too general, not directly applicable. I think if you are trying to make the argument, "as MA goes, so will go the entire country" under either the House or Senate healthcare reform you'll need a little more detail. So rather than some secret agenda that Antitrust suspects I have ![]()
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"Have the clean racing people run any ads explaining that giving a horse a Starbucks and a chocolate poppyseed muffin for breakfast would likely result in a ten year suspension for the trainer?" - Dr. Andrew Roberts |
#46
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You really have seen nothing in the news this past couple weeks about this proposal? I've seen it discussed in multiple places, every time the GOP obstruction was discussed. Here it is again today: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12...y6006305.shtml
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"Have the clean racing people run any ads explaining that giving a horse a Starbucks and a chocolate poppyseed muffin for breakfast would likely result in a ten year suspension for the trainer?" - Dr. Andrew Roberts |
#47
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"Have the clean racing people run any ads explaining that giving a horse a Starbucks and a chocolate poppyseed muffin for breakfast would likely result in a ten year suspension for the trainer?" - Dr. Andrew Roberts |
#48
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#49
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..answer this question riot..would you still like him if you had to work for a small percentage of your income now.. so he can give it to those in more need according to him.. |
#50
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#51
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Not sure what Docicu does. (I suspect he is a ICU specialist.) I try to get along with all docs as you never know when you may need them. As for ER, I don't work in the ER directly but I sure get a lot of MIs from there that we take to the lab and open up the artery. |
#52
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![]() The # needed to kill a filibuster needs to be set to about 55. There needs to be a balance, and that's it. If you look at the the controversial issues that society votes on, the minority is usually in that 45-48% area. For instance, Gay Marriage is an example where a legit Minority Rights view is usually voted down by a typical 53-47 majority vote. It is a case where a naturally biased majority gets to decide the rights of a minority. The Majority should be required to hit the 55% threshold. 60% is excessive, and it's resulted in opportunistic whores acting up in a horrible way. If it was 55 in the Senate, then this bill would be much better for everyone. It would have been done in a reasonable amount of time. Requiring a Presidential Candidate to get 60 votes in the Senate only results in making them look like liars (THEY CAN'T EVEN TRY TO DO WHAT THEY WANTED TO TRY.) They need to be able to try something, and be voted out if it fails. Right now, they get voted out because they can't get 60 votes to try their solutions out. Getting 55 Senators to pass something is a good enough check on the Majority. Hair Helmut Nelson says he's an independent-type person. Well, all whores are independent contractors.
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#53
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![]() What a disgrace this is? Buying off Neb vote by penalizing tax payers forEVER!!! Give me a break. Chicago politics.
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#54
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what aobut Landreau in LA 300 big one's randall |
#55
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#56
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It's wrong, but requiring 60 makes it ripe territory for these parasites to withold their support for enrichment. Requiring just 55 would lessen their power. A good idea will get 55 Senators that support it for the right reasons. It doesn't help when you have a party that is lacking in differing views. The way the Republicans went lock step just made it easier for 4 or 5 crooks to hold out for ransom. This is simply an example of parasites taking advantage of a situation. These people (Lieberman, Nelson, Landrieu) are simply self-centered human parasites. They are in the direct center because that's where they've realized they can get the most money, and attention. They actually don't believe in much(except for Lieberman being a shill for Israel.) JOE cares about Israel, and not much else. |
#57
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The elves of scandals past: Where are they all now? Robert Sorich, Daley's convicted patronage boss from the 11th Ward, could get work release in May. (Tribune photo by Nancy Stone / July 7, 2006) John Kass December 17, 2009 'Tis the season to sip some hot cocoa and ask the two big questions: What happened to all the elves who make politics so interesting around here? Where are they now? For the elves of the Chicago Way, it's been a rough year. One by one, our old friends are gone. But two of the most industrious elves, Don Tomczak, 74, and Robert Sorich, 46, are getting ready to walk out of federal prison. Tomczak, the corrupt former city water boss, was convicted of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. He also ran an illegal patronage army for Mayor Richard Daley and helped former U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Tomczak, get elected. As White House chief of staff, Emanuel is now the most powerful elf in all the land. Tomczak is scheduled for a July release. By next month, he could be in a federal halfway house near you. Surely Emanuel will host a banquet, with sweetmeats and sugarplums, to celebrate Tomczak's release. Sorich, Daley's patronage boss from the 11th Ward, is scheduled to be released in November. He could be eligible for work release in May. After a "Free Robert" fundraiser in a Bridgeport church basement, an 11th Ward priest told me that Sorich could be compared to Jesus Christ, because both were accused of felonies. Talk about your holiday spirit. And all this time, Sorich kept his mouth shut. So, will the mayor stuff Sorich's stocking with a six-figure job? Meanwhile, the mayor's senior elves are lying low. His political brains, Tim Degnan and Jeremiah Joyce. His favorite developers, Michael Marchese and Tommy DiPiazza. And his two favorite truckers, Mike Tadin and mayoral fashionista Fred Bruno Barbara. Their stars once shined bright. Now they hide their light under a bushel. What, Freddy, no fruitcakes? If you're looking for signs of hope, then look no further than the tale of former Chicago Fire Department Lt. Jeffrey "Matches" Boyle, sentenced to prison for arson. In November, Cook County Judge LeRoy Martin Jr. gave Matches an early gift: Matches can keep his $50,000 yearly city pension, though he did admit setting almost 20 fires. It makes you cry, like when Jimmy Stewart hears the bell in "It's a Wonderful Life" and all the precinct captains begin to sing. Unfortunately, some elves have decided to hang up their pointy green shoes. Former Ald. William Banks, 36th, was once the chairman of the Committee on Zoning. His nephew Jimmy is a successful zoning lawyer. The Tribune ran a series, "Neighborhoods for Sale." The FBI became interested. Not that any of these things are connected, but a few months ago, Billy retired. Yet in true Chicago fashion, he transformed his driver, John Rice, into his successor. Just picture Billy rushing home with a big fat goose under his arm, shouting, "Dearest John! I have made you this day! Merry Christmas every one!" It reminds me of another heartwarming tale. A few years ago, one of the 36th Ward political hacks was staying in a $760 room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, not bad for a low-level employee. The worker was arrested by Chicago police, in possession of marijuana and a revolver with the serial number filed off. At the police station, the political worker spit in the face of a female sergeant, earning him the nickname "Spittles." Then Ald. Banks appeared and had a quiet chat with the commander. The charges were reduced to a misdemeanor, and Banks and Spittles went home. I wonder if they're still together, caroling in front of the bungalows on Grand Avenue, noses pink as cherries as they fa-la-la. With Billy's brother, Democratic Ward committeeman Sam Banks, said to be ill, the new boss of the 36th Ward is none other than that highly amusing elf himself, a funny guy, state Sen. James A. DeLeo, D-How You Doin?. Jimmy had a hard year. For starters, his hairy ventriloquist's dummy, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was indicted on federal corruption charges. Jimmy's other buddy, Republican power broker William Cellini, also was indicted. Now Jimmy is putting it out that he's thinking of retiring and hanging up his own little elf shoes, even though his elven boots are probably handmade. A while back, I told you that the FBI is interested in Jimmy's activities. But he hasn't been charged with a thing. Decades ago, the feds made a big stink of $40,000 in frozen cash in his kitchen freezer. But all that frosty cash turned out to belong to Jimmy's friend, a car thief. So there. Jimmy? At least send a card. Let me know how you doin? And that goes for all the little elves. Every single one. Taxpayers care about all of you. Like they say around the Christmas tree when the presents are opened: It's the thought that counts. jskass@tribune.com |
#58
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![]() Hey, you removed your "Obama and Rahm are the anti-christ" post, too. ![]()
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"Have the clean racing people run any ads explaining that giving a horse a Starbucks and a chocolate poppyseed muffin for breakfast would likely result in a ten year suspension for the trainer?" - Dr. Andrew Roberts |
#59
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"Have the clean racing people run any ads explaining that giving a horse a Starbucks and a chocolate poppyseed muffin for breakfast would likely result in a ten year suspension for the trainer?" - Dr. Andrew Roberts |
#60
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That's why I agree with Scuds regarding changing the votes needed to end fillibuster. It's out of hand.
__________________
"Have the clean racing people run any ads explaining that giving a horse a Starbucks and a chocolate poppyseed muffin for breakfast would likely result in a ten year suspension for the trainer?" - Dr. Andrew Roberts |