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Defund Obamacare Now!

By: Daniel Horowitz (Diary)  |  March 1st, 2013 at 03:48 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Next week House Republicans plan to bring a Continuing Resolution to the floor, which will fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year.  If nothing is done to stop them, GOP leaders plan to put forth a clean CR that funds Obamacare.  This is unacceptable.

With health insurance premiums skyrocketing, employers dumping workers from health plans, and new reports predicting trillions in new debt as a result of Obamacare, we must defund this behemoth before it fully takes effect next year.  Many of the new members pledged to defund Obamacare, yet they have dithered for two years in the hopes that it would be struck down by the Supreme Court or that Republicans would win the White House.  In fact, 105 current members of the House GOP Conference signed a letter last August committing to defund Obamacare.

Let’s not be fooled, if Obamacare is allowed to take effect for one year, it will be impossible to reform Medicare, roll back dependency, and balance the budget.  This is the GOP Waterloo.  There’s nothing worth fighting for if we allow the motherload of entitlements to take effect.  Before we make empty promises about reforming popular entitlements that are over 50 years old, let’s muster the courage to draw a line in the sand on a new entitlement that is still unpopular with the public.

Reps. Jim Bridenstine (OK) and Tim Huelskamp (KS) have the courage of their convictions to abide by their campaign promises.  They are circulating a letter to their colleagues requesting leadership to defund Obamacare through the CR.  Remember that this will not be a clean CR anyway.  The White House has already requested dozens of spending “anomalies” to increase funds for pet projects.  Well, defunding Obamacare at the HHS and IRS should be our request.

What does the HHS do with this extra discretionary funding?  They have just finalized 700 pages of new healthcare regulations.  There is no way our nation will ever recover from that.  Healthcare is the biggest part of the private economy and the federal budget.  This is the one thing that is worth fighting for.  This will be our last chance to block Obamacare. 

Take action: Please call the Republican members of the House, particularly the 105 members mentioned in this article, and request that they sign onto the Bridenstine-Huelskamp letter and commit to voting against any budget bill that funds Obamacare.

Democrats were willing to pass this 2700-page abomination despite the political risks.  Our members should have the courage to defund and disrupt its implementation while the public is feeling the pain of rising costs as a result of the law.  We must all watch this upcoming vote carefully and be prepared to replace some of the ineffective members in upcoming primaries.

When it comes to Obamacare, we must remember Ronald Reagan’s indelible warning, “if not us, then who? And if not now, when?”

Cross-posted from The Madison Project

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  • Viet71

    Why not feed the monstrosity, so it grows and causes widespread grief apparent to all?

  • Tbone

    I will bet right now that at least 60 of the 105 are filthy, scumbag liars. Anyone want to take that bet?

  • Viet71

    Except as to filthy. If you’ve ever seen the great looking young women who ply their trade in the wee hours on Capitol Hill and its environs, you know their clients surely keep themselves well scrubbed.

    But I’ll agree “filthy” in the figurative sense. And in the literal sense if wife or press screams about the hanky panky.

  • http://www.TerriersOfTheRight.blogspot.com Flagstaff

    One might wonder if the budget might even be balanced if funding for OCare, TART, and Porkulus were cut. As I understand it, there is funding for those last two one-tme programs in current CR’s. If not, why are the CR’s so big?

  • jj98

    The reason the Republicans will not defund Obamacare is that it is the most significant corporate welfare law ever passed for the benefit of the insurance industry. The insurance lobby spends generously on politicians from both parties. Meanwhile, there are no lobbyists filling glasses and lighting cigars who oppose Obamacare.

    The same scenario applies on almost every issue. The beneficiaries of legislation can buy both parties for a fraction of their first year benefits. When no Republican votes are needed, everybody gets a free pass to vote no. When only a handful of votes are needed, members who were going to retire anyway play the goats. But when 50-60 votes are needed, exactly the minimum required to clear the hurdle miraculously vote with the other side. Often, the offending provisions are slipped into massive authorization bills that pass unanimously. That apparently was the case with the provision passed by a Republican Congress under Bush II providing food stamps to non-citizens — corporate welfare for the agriculture lobby.

    The last time the corporate lobbies failed was the Bush II amnesty. Disgusted rank and file Republicans, informed by talk radio and independent conservative web sites, overwhelmed the corporate lobbyists. Now the beneficiaries hire more lobbyists and spend more money. They may never again lose a big one.

    Perhaps Citizens United has backfired.

  • ceili_dancer

    I just got a call from the NRCC, wanting me to re-up. I told them I’d increase my donation if they put the defunding in the CR, if not they get nothing.

  • checkmate2012

    Nice call. Did they care to respond to your request? Of course I’m sure they’re just paid telemarketers with no clue but hopefully they logged your response.

  • silentnomore

    Clearly, the Grand Old Party is no longer grand, and is no longer a reliable proponent of limited govt, low taxes, and individual freedom and liberties.

    About the only thing one can be sure of is that they oppose the Democrat Party, but they’re not even very good at distinguishing themselves from the leftists anymore either.

    So please explain why anyone who cherishes the Founding Principles, honors and stands firm in the defense of our Constitution, and continually has to defend themselves and their Country from both the GOP and the Democrats- should continue to support either of these two foreign entities?

    In Michigan, thousands of card-carrying members of the GOP are asking this very question, and many are coming to the conclusion that there is not a good reason to support a party that does not support them and their Founding Principles, the concept of American Federalism, state and personal sovereignty, and unabridged rights and freedom.

    Half of the Mi. House GOP Caucus just voted to accept $30 million of our tax dollars being returned to us as a bribe to install an Obamacare Health Insurance exchange, despite the fact that the funding document and it’s requirements are a secret because it has a “Classified” security rating. Our State Senate, despite having a GOP super majority, is expected to also pass this poster child for government gone bad as well in just a few days.

    With Republicans acting like Democrats, who needs them? Since the Conservatives of Michigan want and need representation in their government, they are being forced to find it elsewhere. They will not be denied, and they will no longer be claimed as Republicans.

    Democrats pay the price for not being Republicans regularly. It’s time that Republicans pay the price for not being Republicans as well. They are no longer the party of the right, so we shall find one that is.

    Tim Bos

  • ceili_dancer

    They tried to change the subject a little and brought it around to how important it was to keep the house Republican. I stopped them and said it wouldn’t matter if the House stayed Republican if they didn’t legislate that way.

  • silentnomore

    There’s a major flaw in your theory, jj.

    The rules and regs in Obamacare have been intentionally added to bring the health insurance companies to bankruptcy. The endgame is universal healthcare provided by the government.

    Mandatory coverage of everyone- regardless of how ill or legal status, mandatory ceilings on how much can be charged, and hundreds of other requirements will put them all into bankruptcy- by design.

    Prior to Obamacare, the industry average for a profit margin was between 6% and 12%. The industry has been logging the likelihood of illness and the costs since Columbus set sail for America, and they are not the reason for the skyrocketing costs- the federal govt is by injecting itself into the free market.

    Despite all the examples of your theory holding true, you missed badly on this one.

  • jj98

    In fact, I’m not wrong. It is an undisputed fact that the health insurance industry lobbied for Obamacare. Sure, in the long term, it may drive them bankrupt (if they suffer from an unprecedented complete lobbying failure), but in the short term, it’s a bonanza. Tens of millions of people will have to buy insurance policies they don’t want that will be quite expensive for the total amount covered because of mandatory low deductibles. As in most other industries, health insurance executives care about short term results, not something that may happen after they have retired or moved up to a larger company.

  • checkmate2012

    Great answer ceili’! Keep up the good work!

  • 1689

    In 2010 the Republicans took the House solely because Obamacare was so unpopular. The People who elected them, handing them the House, wanted them to reverse it. Obamacare was passed with zero, zero Republican support. The Republicans were locked out of meeting rooms when it was passed. So the Republicans in the House owe Obamacare & the Democrats nothing, no consideration at all. And yet they’re now going to fund Obamacare like the patsys they are. Why in God’s name?

    Because Republicans are cowards: they have no courage in what they believe; they are spineless milquetoasts, scared of a brawl; they are T.S. Eliot’s “Hollow Men.” Next time I go to the DMV I’m re-registering as something else.

  • grayzel

    I would ask a simple question. What can the House do that will pass the Senate and Barack Hussein Obama will sign?

  • willik

    This is such a simple solution.
    I cannot understand why it’s not instituted by the House from which government largess must, or at least supposed to, originate.
    The lack of testosterone in the Republican hierarchy is an embarrassment to the entire country, not just the Party.

  • mhorner

    Money is the ultimate power in Washington and the GOP controlled House has the “Power of the Purse.” They should not only defund Obamacare, but hundreds of other worthless departments and programs as well. I personally do not know how the White House is funded, but the House should definitely defund or severely limit the massive travel and vacation budget of Obama and Michelle. The CR is truly a weapon the Conservatives can use. They should consult Newt for guidance!.

  • capeconservative

    My thoughts exactly! Defund ALL air fuel costs except for military missions! NO golf outings or campaign trips on AF1, NO travel for the first lady or for cabinet members or for members of Congress! Just fund the military! Perhaps if they all had to stay in Washington until they passed a balanced budget, something might actually be done!

  • Ari

    PRAY TELL “WHAT IS CLASSIFIED” in Obama Care conditions!!!

  • ihateliberals

    The reason I am no longere associated withthehGOP is acts like this. Progressive Liberals have invaded the GOP. They push out the conservatives whenever they have a chance and they would rather give in to the Liberals than allow Conservatives to win.
    I just don’t understand people. They complain and complain yet every two years they send the same clowns to DC. Their excuse is that they have done a good job for their communities. As long as we keep doingthis we are going to get the same reuslts. Boehner and the elite Repoublicans do not want to defund Obamacare. They actually want it their biggest problem is that they didn’t enact it first.
    The time is quickly passing for us to create a Conservative party. I keep saying this and getting attacked that it wil split the vote and give power to the Democrats. I say what do you think is happening now. A New conservative Party would not only glean members fromthe Republicans but also the conservative Democrats. With time I beleive we could over come the GOP. I made me sick to wee what has happened to my Party of over 50 years. Now I am a Independent conservative. My cousins that have been Devout Democrats have now joined me as Independent Conservatives.
    If Obamacare is allowed to continue our healthcare system will collapse witin 5 years. Unprercendeted power will be given to the Fed’s to control all aspectx of our lives possibily even gun control by passing the second ammendment. People laugh at me but I am so afraid i will have the last laugh.

  • http://www.ajharaldson.com lakeworthcane

    My take on this is that, despite some politicians’ rhetoric against this law, certainly most if not all of them want it. They’re drooling all over it.

    From what I’ve seen for all of my life, the issue gets to the US political culture’s core. Politicians are almost all wealthy, self-interested people who get into politics to acquire the (however shady) legal authority to directly or indirectly serve their own interests and pander to those personality flaws that render them successful politicians: consistent dishonesty, manipulation, control, vanity and egocentricism.

    They’re successful politicians because they’re fundamentally deceptive people and because they’re voraciously consumptive and parasitic: a testimony to our legislative system’s failure.

    The Affordable Care Act is their opportunity to grant themselves more money and control.

    So, the question becomes whether they’ll go against their more and more unrestrained and culturally acceptable–even preferable–neurotic personal inclinations and defund the law, as many said they would, or surrender to their sick needs for more and more wealth and power, thereby tacitly admiting–that is, via actions and not words–that they were lying all the time, and fund the law.

    The stage is set for “the big lie” because federally-funded healthcare really does need to be reformed. The attendant spending is out of control and a huge factor in current federal overspending, and the fraud is just crazy.

    However, the law we mistakenly call “Obamacare”–because Obama didn’t write it, probably hasn’t read it, and can’t speak to it beyond meaningless platitudes plucked from the contemporary politicians’ warm, fuzzy, feel-good litany–is a travesty of legislation, legislative process and authority, and needed reform.

    Succinctly put, the law is a monster of vagueness, overreach, deficit spending, additional taxation and–as if those flaws aren’t enough–inefficiency. From my research, it was all but anonymously penned long before Obama ever took office in 2008; long before he even threw his hat into the presidential contest. (Just try and find out who actually wrote it; I dare you.) It was kept hidden from the public view, although lots of people knew it was in the works.

    Even today, its main object–to put the federal government smack-dab squarely in control of the highly lucrative healthcare insurance business AND the healthcare business–is largely overlooked. Its activation requires tremendous civil-rights breaches, such as granting the federal government authority to force individuals to buy health insurance and, if they don’t buy it, sell it to them and extract payment from their personal bank accounts.

    Holy . . .! What unethical businessperson wouldn’t go for that: the legal authority to take control of a major industry and to force people to buy his or her product?

    “Hey, I’m selling self-propelled shoelaces. I just passed a law forcing you to buy them. Let the good times roll!”

    It’s so tempting, I’m sure, to those neurotic personalities we elect to leadership positions. Laws like the Affordable Care Act are the reasons why they got into politics.

    It’s a bad law. It violates the greater law of the land. They know and have said as much. But in the saying, were they sincere, or were they merely blowing smoke and stalling for time until they could ensure they’d get their share of the spoils?
    (I suspect that’s the story with the Keystone Pipeline. It’s a big money-maker, and nobody’s going to approve of it until he or she is assured of a cut.)

    We’re about to find out. From any reasonable legal or ethical perspective, the Affordable Care Act should be defunded. If it’s defunded, perhaps our wretched political system still has a modicum of integrity.

    If it’s funded, then I think we’ll have every reason to believe the very worst about those who hold federal public office in this country.

  • PowerToThePeople

    Then why are you here running your mouth amongst us? We are GOP, if you dislike us so much, go find a stupid site dedicated to your ignorant third party desires. Dop not be a hypocrite there bub.

    By the way, you ran away last time I brought this up to you, sure you will this time as well, but there are already a ton of third parties out there who have exactly zero power, zero ability to win, zero ability to change policy. The ones who are ” conservative” are no different. Go join them and stop with the crying, but remember this, they have the same issues we have yet have none of the power we do. They have the same squishes, same corruption, same deception, except no matter how much you change them, you still have zero ability to change any policy or protect this nation from people like Obama. So you leave problems to go to the same problems and have less influence, wow, such a wise thing to do. Or you could go start your own and have zero power and will still end up with the same problems. It is a stupid idea that you keep pandering and we all know it.

  • sarah417

    I find it very hard to know just what I can do about anything. I spend huge amounts of time signing, writing, calling my congressmen and I don’t see it making any difference at all. Sorry, but I have given up.

  • sarah417

    I have sent two long, scathing letters to the NRCC saying I would not give one more dime to them because they are not fighting for the American people and the Constitution. Sorry, I have given up.

  • gapch12

    I feel the same Sarah417. I keep canned answers back to emails sent to congressmen with the promise of creating change in Washington. I for 1 no longer care!!!

  • gapch12

    And your reply is a prime example of what’s wrong with the repubs! Striking out with someone with a different opinion from yours.

  • PowerToThePeople

    Oh yes, that must be the problem.

    Man is it raining stupid people today.

  • Bill S

    Read the Posting Rules:

    http://www.redstate.com/posting-rules/

    Read Rule 6. Don’t violate it again.

  • josephlanders

    I can see some results of Obamacare already and its not improving patient care

  • Ari

    Again you call “STUPID” anyone that reveals your own alien behavior.

    Will you ever learn to be inclusive rather than exclusive… YOU ARE NOT GOD nor infallible.
    PTTP, you have much to offer, and expecially experience and knowledge, but:

    If ever we can rebuild the truth of REAL Republican principles, while riding ourselves of RINOS, YOU, and others of your impatience and self importance, must become more humble, contrite of heart.

  • Ari

    WHAT, if anything in OCare, mandates RFID “CHIPS”…. Just heard this and do not have full bill… but it might explain “classified” designation…. if it is true.

  • Ari

    Any thrust but to re-take grass roots conservative control of Republican party is ultimate suicide. Dig in and make a difference in the only vehicle we have short of the second coming of MESSIAN@! Frustration does not justify, myopia.!!!!

  • Ari

    Review FORCE MULTIPLIERs and Precinct effectiveness of CW! Please! Your frustration is understandable, your response is naive.

  • Ari

    Addendum to above: PttP, if we met, we would likely be 90=99% agreed on Principles…. but don’t you see you are alienating potential allies? Education is superior to CASTIGATION.

  • http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

    ihateliberals,

    I understand your frustrations. I hope you will rethink your strategy.

    I believe it is MUCH easier for conservatives to become a political power house by filling up all of the vacant Republican Party precinct committeeman slots where they live rather than trying to start a “conservative party” from scratch.

    Just the sheer numbers alone prove that The Neighborhood Precinct Committeeman Strategy works. Here it is in a nutshell:

    http://www.teapartynation.com/profiles/blogs/what-we-need-to-do-as-soon-as

    The last graphic is the key.

    Here’s what conservatives can achieve by creating a conservative majority on a local or county or state committee:

    http://www.redstate.com/coldwarrior/2012/12/07/1058/

    http://www.pimagop.org/index.cfm/article_1287.htm

    http://www.redstate.com/2013/02/26/holding-them-accountable-richard-shelby-edition/

    http://www.redstate.com/2013/02/26/holding-them-accountable-richard-shelby-edition/#comment-813055217

    This is what can happen when enough conservatives get into the
    precinct committeeman ranks of a state Republican party and then elect
    enough conservatives to the leadership of the local, county and state
    committees.

    Now imagine if EVERY Republican local, county and state committee in
    EVERY state started passing and publicizing these kinds of resolutions.

    It could happen if enough conservatives became precinct committeemen where they lived.

    Can you spare a few hours a month? Can you find other conservatives to unite and organize with you inside your local Party committee?

    I hope you’ll try.

    Thank you.

    CW
    http://theprecinctproject.wordpress.com

  • PowerToThePeople

    I hope to alienate you as you are quite the weirdo and the loser. Now run along, preach to someone who gives a damn about what you have to say.

  • PowerToThePeople

    Inclusive is for fools….and ignorant bums like you.

  • mikwcas

    this is the very reason we made Boehner spoth. please grow a collective spine and DEFUND DEFUND DEFUND this monstrousity known as ob@ma-care house republicans.

  • 1689

    The House can pass all the other appropriations bills that will run the government. Normally, there’s a dozen of them passed during the course of the year. Send them to Obama. If he vetoes them because they don’t fund Obamacare then too bad, he’s the one shutting down the government.