Freedomworks announces John Cornyn protests across Texas

From Freedomworks' Grassroots director:

John Cornyn  left from Senator Lee’s fight to Defund ObamaCare. 

Cornyn should be doing everything he can to fight Obama’s health care takeover. Yet pressure from Mitch McConnell made him squirm, and Cornyn abandoned Senator Lee.\ 

We need to find out why he refuses to stand with Mike Lee and do everything he can to protect Texas from ObamaCare. 

Will you join activists from across the Lonestar State as we pay a visit to John Cornyn’s district offices? 

Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, and Rand Paul are doing everything possible to stop ObamaCare from being implemented. Yet the GOP Establishment is working to stop them. 

John Cornyn is standing with the Republican elites instead of Texas. And you deserve to know why. 

Texans need answers on why their Senator is standing with the Republican Establishment instead of Texas. Join me and other activists as we visit his district offices to find out why.

You can find Senator Cornyn office locations here.

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Pastor Danny on Canadian Medicine

Last week, while on a mission trip to Toronto, our pastor suffered a calf injury that necessitated a trip to a Canadian emergency room; from his letter to the congregation:

Healthcare in Canada is difficult and while sitting in a packed waiting room to see the orthopedic doctor, there was much complaint by the Canadians about the healthcare. We are heading in this direction in the USA under our current political leadership. I wish those in Washington could have sat with me in the hospital here in Toronto and heard the outcries that I heard from the Canadian people themselves.

 From our student pastor, Chad Hampton:

The situation is complicated because Canada’s socialized healthcare system means it is nearly impossible for someone to get an MRI.

 Sigh, way to go America....

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On Texas Democrats favorite Abortion Talking Point

One of the Democrats favorite talking points during the current abortion debate is that the proposed legislation is opposed by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Texas Hospital Association, and the Texas Medical Association.

At first, it sounds important.  These are groups with 'credentials.'    The real story requires digging.

First up, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supported Obamacare:

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has long been a proponent of comprehensive health care reform and this weeks' enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care for America Act extends health insurance coverage to an additional 32 million Americans. "Ob-gyns see first-hand the devastating effects that the lack of health insurance or underinsurance has on our patients," noted ACOG President Gerald F. Joseph, Jr, MD.

ACOG credits the President and House and Senate Democratic leaders for including many critical elements of ACOG's Health Care for Women, Health Care for All campaign that will greatly improve women's health, including guaranteed maternity coverage; eliminating pre-existing coverage exclusions for women who are pregnant, have had a previous cesarean, or are the victims of domestic violence; eliminating gender rating that causes women to pay more than men for the same insurance coverage; creating coordinated care centers for women and ensuring direct access to ob-gyns; expanding family planning services for low-income women; and providing access to vital preventive screenings including mammography and Pap tests.

This bill (HR 3590), however, leaves several critical issues unaddressed, including medical liability reform and repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) used to determine physician payments in the Medicare program. "As ACOG embraces the many positive features of this legislation that will improve the health and well-being of our patients, we will continue to press for national medical liability reform and repeal of the SGR," says Dr. Joseph.

In addition, during the 2009 debate over Obamacare, ACOG recommended rationing of Pap Smears.

Next, we have the Texas Hospital association, who support Medicaid expansion:

“Hospitals agree with the governor that the Medicaid program is flawed. Below-cost reimbursement to providers creates an access-to-care problem for the millions currently enrolled, and there have been legitimate concerns about whether the program can sustain the millions more who would be able to enroll under PPACA,” said Dan Stultz, M.D., FACP, FACHE, THA president chief executive officer. “However, without Medicaid expansion, many will remain uninsured and therefore will seek care in emergency rooms, shifting costs to the privately insured and increasing uncompensated care to health care providers.”

In addition, THA supported last fall's Hospital Tax Increase in Travis County. 

Moving on, Texas Medical Association ALSO supports Medicaid Expansion:

The Texas Medical Association, which represents physicians across the state, announced on Saturday that it would support the Medicaid expansion if lawmakers can devise a way to give Texas “the flexibility to change the plan as our needs and circumstances change.”

“You have the two major entities that represent the delivery of health care in Texas saying this is something that we definitely need to look at,” said Dr. Carlos Cardenas, vice president of the TMA board of trustees, adding the organization recognizes “there are issues within the present Medicaid program and that the Legislature is in a position to come up with some reforms to shore up the system.”

BOTTOM LINE: Three organizations with long histories of supporting progressive legislation are opposed to conservative legislation; sorry Texas Democrats, that's not news.

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ACTION ALERT: NO on SB 33; the Texas Death Panel Empowerment Act

Wow:

Via Texas Eagle Forum re: SB 303 by: Dr. Bob Deuell
"The Texas Medical Association (TMA) is supporting this bad bill: Texas SB 303.

Despite opposition by numerous pro-patient activists, the Texas Senate Health & Human Services Committee passed SB 303 this week. This sets up a showdown on the floor of the Texas Senate, with patient rights in Texas hospitals hanging in the balance.

SB 303 allows hospitals to impose "do not resuscitate" orders and cause their patients' deaths without the consent of patients or their families.

The death panels predicted by Sarah Palin become a reality in this bill, as it authorizes hospitals to set up and control decisions to end patients' lives. As soon as Medicare or Medicaid payments on a patient expire, hospitals can insist on pulling the plug, even when patients could recover. Hospitals will try to coerce physicians to do what the hospitals want, not what is best for the patient.

Whom should Texans thank for this abomination? The Texas Hospital Association and its minion, the Texas Medical Association, insist on passage of this bill, and Senators Jane Nelson, Joan Huffman, and Bob Deuell push the THA and TMA agenda as they do every session.

But there are 31 Senators and this bill can still be blocked and defeated. Hospitals and the TMA have less influence on the floor of the Senate than in the Health Committee. Please contact your Senator and urge him or her to stand up for patients, and join the growing list of opponents to this death panel bill, SB 303.”

Please ask your Senator to VOTE NO on SB 303, the death panel bill."

 Texas Right to Life has more here.

 Contact YOUR Texas Senator here.

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BREAKING NEWS: Rick Perry Caves on Obamacare

Sigh:

Governor Rick Perry reverses position on Medicaid Expansion
by,
Abe Rill Phuelez
April, 1st 2013

Austin, TX -- Citing a need to 'embrace political moderation' and fear of 'being called mean by Democrats,' Texas Governor Rick Perry today reversed his position on expanding Medicaid under the 2010 Federal Health Care Law.

"In 2012, Mitt Romney decisively won independents and the results speak for themselves.  Texans should embrace political moderation to achieve similar results," Perry said.  "As Governor, I fear being called mean by Democrats so much that I would rather expand a bankrupt Medicaid program."

Medicaid expansion will split Texas Republicans.  Representative David Simpson and Senator Donna Campbell issued a joint statement calling the move 'heartbreaking and inexplicable.'  Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, by contrast, hailed Perry's decision as "the best news I've heard all session."

Battleground Texas Reacts

Jeremy Bird, President Obama's handpicked choice to rebuild Texas Democrats, echoed Straus' sentiments.

"Battleground Texas is ecstatic Governor Perry has joined the tradition of former Virginia state senator John Chichester and former Colorado Governor Bill Owens by preemptively expanding government" said Bird. "As we recently made clear, Battleground Texas does not yet posses the resources we need to win.  Medicaid expansion is the taxpayer financed slush fund of Battleground Texas' dreams."

Former George W. Bush speechwriter Mark McKinnon called the move 'a strategic milestone' for Democrats.  "The long-term objective of the Democrat party is subvert traditional American virtues of individual sovereignty and self-reliance and to replace them with a spirit of fear and dependence on Caesar.  Any system that traps another million souls in a substandard health-care system is a slam dunk win for Texas Democrats."

Julian Castro salivates

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, the political figure most widely expected to benefit from Medicaid expansion, issued the following statement:

"I am delighted Governor Perry chose to reject common-sense Medicaid reforms like Federal block granting in favor of the mother of all payola schemes for Texas Democrats.  Socialized medicine will allow me to establish a protection racket for a statewide run in a way that felony corporate contributions never could.  Medicaid expansion will be Julian Castro's personal Tammany Hall.

Tea Party activists were too busy fighting among themselves to comment.

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How Obamacare is Impacting One Texas Business

With Obamacare slamming small businesses across the nation, Glenn Beck stopped by Real News the other night to explain how Obama's Health Insurance Protection Racket will impact Mercury:



Highlights:

• Two things could kill Mercury: Security and Health Care.

• The Feds won't let Mercury do catastrophic plus HSA's.

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Comptroller Susan Combs: John Galt is Alive and Well and He's Living in Texas

Great CPAC panel featuring Texas Comptroller Susan Combs: Has Atlas Shrugged?!? Business in Obama's America:

Highlights:

• Technology has altered the pace of change.
• Overwhelms Centralized Bureaucracy

• Small Businesses innovate 11x faster than Big Businesses.

• Under Obama, fewer small businesses have been formed and more have failed than at any time in 40 years.

• Big business and big labor can navigate big government; small business cannot.

• We spend more money on education than any other country for worse results.

• Susan Combs:
• "John Galt is alive and well and he's living in Texas."
• Some parts of the Federal government (like the EPA) just don't like successful people.
• Texas has a diversified economy.
• We love to sue the federal government in Texas
• Big government is not your friend if you're a risk taker.

• Jeanette Prenger
• Her current Health Care bill is $21,000 per month; under Obamacare it will go up to $58,000.

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Texas Tribune: Battleground Texas Reveals Their Weaknesses

The Texas Tribune had an interview yesterday with Jeremy Bird, the director of Battleground Texas.  In the interview, Bird tips his hand on strategy.  Some highlights:

Dems plan to boost turnout (and, even though they don't say it out loud, fraud):

Bird contends that Republicans' confidence is based on elections in which only about half of the state has turned out to vote. “We’ll see what happens when we start to get 60 or 65 or 70 percent turnout. It’s going to look very different,”

 This is a point conservatives would do well to heed.  The Obama campaign made it a priority to register marginal voters and get them to the polls.  There's no reason to believe they couldn't make headway with a similar effort in Texas.  The caution to Democrats, however, is that this is a double-edged sword.  There are dozens (if not hundreds) of people who don't vote in every Church across this state.

Bird reveals their timetable:

Part of the reason that [the Obama campaign] won Florida in 2012 is that we had had a grassroots program running for six years with all the components — digital, communications, field, data, analytics — all of them put together into a 21st century modern campaign that worked for people's votes.

Six years from today would mean that Democrats intend to compete statewide around 2018.  That's not impossible, but it does mean there's plenty of time between now and then for events to intervene.  Personally, we think the global economy will collapse before Battleground Texas has time to execute this plan; when that happens, it will reshuffle the deck of domestic politics in a way Battleground Texas doesn't anticipate.

The specifics of how they plan to boost turnout:

We have to do that here. And it can’t just happen in one part of the state; it has to happen across the state. We need to touch places where we’re getting 25 percent of the vote and get 32 percent of the vote. It’s not necessarily about winning all those places, but we have to compete there. And then we have to have higher turnout in places that have already gone blue.

The point about going from 25 percent to 32 percent in hostile territory is an interesting one Cahnman's Musings had not thought about.  That's a good strategy in a vacuum.  However, like we said earlier, it's a strategy that cuts both ways.  We live in Austin, and there is an untapped pool of potential conservative voters right here.  Both sides are going to work overtime to boost turnout.

Then, almost as an afterthought, Bird lets the cat out of the bag:

In order to do this right, we’re going to have to raise the money, the grassroots money to do it and then ultimately transition that into a 21st century campaign with real organizers in neighborhoods working for every single vote.

If you only take one point away from this post, make it this one: the left doesn't (yet) have the money to pull this off.  The ONLY WAY they will get the money they need is if Republicans expand state government for them.  That's how the left took over Colorado.  That's why School Choice and Medicaid are such important fights.  The left will only acquire the resources necessary to swing Texas if Republicans give them a bigger government from which to siphon money.

Finally, Bird closes out with a cryptic (and bizarre) statement:

There are millions of kids in this state who are currently being denied access to health insurance because of the current governor.

We have no idea what Bird's talking about, but our educated guess is that he's talking about Rick Perry's refusal to expand Medicaid under Obamacare. That's bizarre; Medicaid is a failed program that exploits the vulnerable.  If Battleground Texas wants to make expanding substandard Health Care their central argument, go for it!

Bottom line: The Left intends to get more of their people to the polls than they have in the past (which will also make fraud easier).  Cahnman's Musings expects them to pull that off.  What the left cannot control, however, is turnout on our side.  There are plenty of untapped potential Conservative voters in this state; Cahnman's Musings goes to Church with hundreds of them.  The challenge for conservatives in Texas will be to increase engagement among folks who already agree with us but don't necessarily vote.

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By Popular Demand: Governor Rick Perry -- CPAC 2013

Governor Perry gave a barnburner of a speech today in Washington where he also tipped his hand about the coming fight in Texas over Medicaid:

Highlights:

• Releasing dangerous foreign nationals into the United States and blaming the sequester was a 'federally sponsored jailbreak.'

• "There's nothing free that comes from Washington."
• Me: Amen to that!!!

• "All we have is a promise from a Federal Government that apparently can't afford to lock up dangerous criminals."

• After repeating his unwavering opposition to expanding Medicaid under Obamacare, Governor Perry then laid out his alternative in more detail than I've heard before:
• Patient-Centered Reforms
• Flexibility for States to Innovate
• Higher co-pays for Medicaid services to discourage overconsumption
• Asset tests for Medicaid benefits.
• HSA's for the poor.

•  "We care about the Health of our citizens more than Washington."

• On Economic Growth: "It just so happens that balanced budgets and one of the lowest tax and spending burdens in the nation corresponds with our #1 ranking when it comes to jobs created."

• We don't believe growing government grows the economy.

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Empower Texans: Straus Seeks Sugarcoat for Medicaid Expansion

Sigh, leave it to Joe Straus to attempt to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory; money quote:

A month after confessing his desire for the Legislature to have a conservation about Medicaid expansion, Speaker Straus now says it’s time to “get our heads out of the sand” in order to find a “Texas solution.” The problem? His idea of a solution is really nothing more than a sugarcoated version of what the Obama Administration is already offering.

....

Knowing that Medicaid expansion under the current terms proposed by the Obama Administration is completely off the table, members of the grow-government crowd in the Capitol have been speculating about what type of “compromise” the Legislature might agree to with the Obama Administration.

The most common idea thrown against the wall would mimic the recent Arkansas deal struck with the feds, permitting the billions of federal tax dollars to be used to subsidize the purchase of private insurance for everyone making less than 133% of the federal poverty level.

Private insurance instead of a government bureaucracy? How innovative! How flexible! Or at least so they say…

Not discussed about the Arkansas plan is the requirement that these private insurance plans match the same benefits and cost-sharing requirements as what would otherwise be mandated under the original Medicaid expansion offer.

Couple that with the fact that private insurance premiums are set to skyrocket thanks to the litany of regulations set by ObamaCare, and you come up with a system that costs on average $3,000 more per person under virtually the same conditions originally put forth by the federal government.

 Folks who oppose the Medicaid expansion need to contact their legislators.

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Why Did Congressman Roger Williams vote to Fund Obamacare?!?

Well, that's disappointing.

Fresh off of Rand Paul's historic filibuster, U.S. House Republicans passed a bill to fund the government for the rest of the year; unfortunately:

except for ten brave souls, every Republican Congressman Voted to Approve Obamacare Today,  and they broke their own rules to do it.

 My Congressman, Roger Williams (R - Austin/Ft. Worth), was not one of those ten brave souls.

To explain his vote, Congressman Williams said:

“The President’s sequester placed rigid requirements on the Department of Defense, putting our nation at risk.  This CR provides the DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs with the flexibility to meet all fiscal requirements and determine how best to absorb the sequester cuts and ensure that our troops – both past and present – have the necessary resources,” said Williams.

Taken at face value, Congressman Williams seems to be arguing that giving Chuck Hagel more leeway over the Defense budget is a worthwhile trade-off for continuing to fund Obamacare.  That's a bizarre calculation, on both policy and political grounds, especially for a guy who only got 25% in a12 man primary.  Cahnman's Musings is very disappointed by this vote from Congressman Roger Williams.

Cahnman's Musings has reached out to Congressman Williams' office and will update this post if they respond.

In the meantime, Cahnman's Musings urges our readers in Austin, Cleburne, and Ft. Worth to contact Congressman Williams and express your disappointment over his vote on H.R. 933:

Congressman Roger Williams: 

• Washington D.C.  -- (202) 225 - 9896
• Austin -- (512) 473 - 8910
• Cleburne -- (817) 774 - 2576
  
• Twitter: @RepRWilliams

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Medicaid, circa 2017

Last week, on the blogger conference call Governor Perry pointed out that:

Washington is going to run out of money in 3-4 years, at which point the states will be on the hook for the full cost; that's when they're going to start pushing single-payer.

That is a point that cannot be repeated often enough.  Washington is going to run out of money.  When that happens, the Medicaid burden will fall on states.  When that happens, expanded Medicaid will be an economic anvil for participating states.  States that resist the lure of Medicaid expansion today will reap tremendous benefits in 3 to 4 years when Washington runs out of money.

Expanding the current Medicaid system is an economic suicide pact.

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Texas House Republicans do the right thing (for now) on Medicaid

Phew; Texas House Republicans voted overwhelmingly to support Governor Perry and not expand Medicaid.

This should take Medicaid expansion under Obamacare off the table until after the next election. (Update: No, it won't).

I'll (still) take it.

Update II: Sunshine State Sarah (of Texas) reports more good news out of Florida.

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ACTION ALERT: Texas House Republicans Cave on Obamacare?!?

Wow; according to RedState, Texas House Republicans are going wobbly on Obamacare:

Republican Texas State Representatives will [meet] at 1pm CT today consider caving on Obamacare.

According to our sources, both inside and outside the legislature, that's not going to happen.  Texas House Republicans seem to understand the folly of Medicaid expansion.  Still, it never hurts to remind them how you feel.

First, contact YOUR legislator via the link above; also, we recommend you also contact House Speaker Joe Straus; the Texas House Speaker website doesn't give the number to his Capital Office, but you can reach his district office at (210) 828-4411.

Update: You can also reach the Speaker on Twitter: @speakerstraus

Empower Texans has more here.

Update II (7 pm): Texas House Republicans did the right thing.

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Governor Rick Perry on Limiting Spending, School Choice, and Medicaid

Governor Rick Perry spoke to Texas Bloggers tonight thanks to Americans for Prosperity -- Texas.  The Governor had about ten minutes of opening remarks then took questions for 25 minutes.  The following are from my notes:

• Conservative fiscal policies have "consistently paid dividends" through good times and bad.

• While the Legislature is in town: "everyone wants a piece of the money."

• The basics: Keep spending and taxes low, predictable regulatory climate, fair court system.

• Not only should Texas hold the line on taxes, we should lower the tax burden.

• Texas has the third highest High School graduation rates in the U.S. today.

• Different children learn with different goals in mind.

• Allow education dollars to follow the Child.

• I "really support" Dan Patrick on School Choice.

• Medicaid:
• We could have a healthier population for less money but Washington refuses to allow us to spend our own money how we see fit.
• Washington is going to run out of money in 3-4 years, at which point the states will be on the hook for the full cost; that's when they're going to start pushing single-payer.

• Texas Budget Compact:
• We began the process early so the idea could be distilled properly.
• The Legislature "will vote on this."
• Straus will "allow the will of the House to prevail."

• Other than that, the Governor also discussed various ideas for tax relief; while the Governor hasn't committed to any particular idea, he did promote this website for any Texans who want to make suggestions as to what form tax relief should take.

Update: Pondering Penguin has more here.

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URGENT: Oppose Texas Medicaid Expansion

Americans for Prosperity -- Texas has an urgent action alert to stiffen the spines of Texas Legislators in opposing the fiscally suicidal Medicaid expansion in Obamacare:

Texas joined 25 other states in challenging the federal government arguing that the expansion of Medicaid in the President’s health care law was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court agreed calling the expansion a “gun to the head.” Now, supporters of the law are urging Texas to reverse its position and expand the broken, costly Medicaid system.

Read more: http://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=9hJILXMCKbKYE&b=6611291&aid=519352#ixzz2LvP5InWI

 Many legislators are cowards, even in Texas (especially the House); make sure to make your voice heard on this URGENT fiscal priority.

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